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Nicole Yen

Course Title: Scripps Institution of Oceanography: Introduction to Marine Biology

Nicole Yen’s research focuses on using phylogenetic tools to investigate the evolution and biogeography of dorvilleid polychaetes found in Eastern Pacific hydrothermal vents, seeps, and whale-falls. Other research projects she has been involved with include working with bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles, chimpanzees, gorillas, giant pandas, and burrowing owls through institutions such as the San Diego Zoo, Lincoln Park Zoo, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Yen has led discussion sections in the courses Urban Ecology, Environmental Issues, and Marine Invertebrates Lab at UC San Diego. She also served as a graduate student educator for the Birch Aquarium and is actively involved in STEAM outreach programs for K-12 students. Yen earned a Master of Science degree in Marine Biology from Scripps Institute of Oceanography, UC San Diego and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a focus in ecology, behavior, and evolution from UC San Diego. In 2019, Yen also earned a Master of Arts in Teaching from University of Southern California. 

  • University of Queensland, Australia, Marine Biology and Terrestrial Ecology, Education Abroad.
  • BS in Ecology, Behavior and Evolution, with a minor in Marine Science, University of California, San Diego
  • MS in Marine Biology, University of California, San Diego
  • Ph.D. in Marine Biology, University of California, San Diego (in process)

Nicole was a co-instructor for this past Summer's UC San Diego Academic Connections 2016. She has worked as a Graduate Student Educator at Birch Aquarium, where she created and designed visitor activity (Explore it: The deep dark depths of the ocean-Deep sea adaptations). Nicole has also served as a Teaching Assistant in Urban Ecology and Environmental Issues: Natural Sciences, as well as a Science Education Assistant Instructor (4th grade) for the Ocean Discovery Institute.

  • N.K. Yen & G.W. Rouse (2019) Phylogeny, biogeography, and systematics of Pacific vent, methane seep, and whalefall Parougia (Dorvilleidae, Annelida) with 8 new species. Accepted.
  • D.Zhang, N.K. Yen, C. Wang, and G.W. Rouse (2017).Phylogeny of Ophryotrocha (Dorvilleidae, Annelida) from hydrothermal vents with description of six new species. Manuscript in preparation.
  • Cavole, L.M., A.M., Demko, R.E. Diner, A. Giddings, I. Koester, C.M.L.S. Pagniello, M. Paulsen, A. Ramirez-Valdez, S.N. Schweneck, N.K. Yen, M.E. Zill and Franks P.J.S. 2016. Biological impacts of 2013-2015 Warm- Water Anomalies in the Northeast Pacific: Winners, Losers and the Future. The Oceanography Society.
  • Ross, S., Freeman, H., & Yen, N. (2013) A multidisciplinary assessment of captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes): Do ex-pet and ex-performing chimpanzees differ from those with more typical early life histories? Oral communication, IV Iberian Primatology Conference. Girona, Spain.
  • Cavole, L.M., A.M., Demko, R.E. Diner, A. Giddings, I. Koester, C.M.L.S. Pagniello, M. Paulsen, A. Ramirez- Valdez, S.N. Schweneck, N.K. Yen, M.E. Zill and Franks P.J.S. (in press). Biological impacts of 2013-2015 Warm- Water Anomalies in the Northeast Pacific: Winners, Losers and the Future. The Oceanography Society.